Tens of thousands of people protested in Hong Kong today over proposed changes to extradition rules, in the largest public demonstration since 2014’s Occupy Central/Umbrella Movement. Police estimated that 22,800 attended while organizers gave an estimate of 130,000. The proposed rules would allow Hong Kong to extradite people to be tried in China and other places that it does not have rendition agreements with. The Hong Kong Bar Association, human rights organizations, and others have raised concerns over this proposal given China’s lack of legal protections and fears of the erosion of Hong Kong’s judicial independence from China. AFP reports on the protests:
The extradition proposal has already sparked large protests and mounting alarm within the city’s business and legal communities who fear it will hammer the financial hub’s international appeal and tangle people up in China’s opaque courts.
But Sunday’s protest was one of the biggest in the city in recent years.
The demonstration comes just days after four prominent leaders of Hong Kong’s democracy movement were jailed for their role in organising mass pro-democracy protests in 2014 that brought parts of the city to a standstill for months.
Demonstrators on Sunday chanted “Step down, Carrie Lam!” — referring to the city’s pro-Beijing leader, while many held the yellow umbrellas that symbolised the 2014 rallies. [Source]
Jessie Pang and Greg Torode report for Reuters on protesters’ concerns:
Veteran activist and former legislator Leung Kwok-hung said the government’s move risked removing Hong Kongers’ “freedom from fear”.
“Hong Kong people and visitors passing by Hong Kong will lose their right not to be extradited into mainland China,” he said. “They would need to face an unjust legal system on the mainland.”
Some younger marchers said they were worried about traveling to the mainland after the move, which comes just as the government encourages young people to deepen ties with the mainland and promotes Hong Kong’s links with southern China.
Law clerk Edward Wen, 45, said the difference in human rights standards between Hong Kong and the mainland was too great to bridge.
“You will be screwed as long as they put up a crime on your behalf,” he said. [Source]
Al Jazeera looks at the proposed rule changes:
Under the changes, the Hong Kong leader would have the right to order the extradition of wanted offenders to China, Macau and Taiwan as well as other countries not covered by Hong Kong’s existing extradition treaties.
As a safeguard, such orders – to be issued case-by-case – can be challenged and appealed through the city’s independent legal system. Government officials have said no one at risk of the death penalty or torture or facing a political charge can be sent from Hong Kong.
The proposals could be passed into law later in the year, with the city’s pro-democratic camp no longer holding enough seats to block the move. [Source]
In recent years, Chinese authorities have removed individuals from Hong Kong for investigation in China or have detained Hong Kong residents while they are in the mainland. In 2015, five Hong Kong booksellers and publishers associated with Causeway Bay Bookstore were detained in China. One, Gui Minhai, remains in Chinese detention. One of the booksellers, Lam Wing-kee, recently moved to Taiwan out of fear of being extradited from Hong Kong once the new rules take effect.
Last week, nine organizers of 2014’s Umbrella Movement protests were convicted–and eight sentenced–on “public nuisance charges,” with two professors, Chan Kin-man and Benny Tai, sentenced to 16 months in prison.
130,000 people joined the march today in Hong Kong in order to against the China extradition law and support jailed activist. It’s the biggest turnout since the Umbrella Movement in 2014. https://t.co/zEnQFxCQyc pic.twitter.com/ZBOQa4srGj
— Joshua Wong 黃之鋒 (@joshuawongcf) April 28, 2019
These guys dressed up as mainland police at today's protest against the China extradition law, galvanized by the Occupy jailings. This is the biggest protest I've seen in Hong Kong in recent years. Pictures by @AntAFP pic.twitter.com/twcmqXJuSg
— Elaine Yu (@yuenok) April 28, 2019
Many yellow umbrellas today, as you can see in this photo from @appledaily_hk
Organisers say 130,000 marched against a bill that would allow extradition from #HongKong to the Mainland in the first large-scale protest since four of the #Umbrella9 were jailed. pic.twitter.com/mhj72Yedqc— Yuen Chan (@xinwenxiaojie) April 28, 2019
With a turnout of 130,000, the protest today in Hong Kong — against proposed extradition arrangements with China and in support of political prisoners — was the largest since the Umbrella Movement’s end in 2014. We are happy to have been a part of it. Fight on! pic.twitter.com/NHiiqeURFv
— Demosistō 香港眾志 (@demosisto) April 28, 2019
And here they come – Hong Kong rallies against proposed law allowing #extradition to China ?? pic.twitter.com/HUjiV3wKXF
— Erin Hale (@erinhale) April 28, 2019
When you talk about #HongKong protests in #China, this is what happens ?: @NancyCNBC @EmilyCNBC @cnbcSri @CNBC @CNBCi pic.twitter.com/mxLzzjHS73
— Eunice Yoon (@onlyyoontv) April 28, 2019
